HERE I AM

Yikes! Has it really been a year of "No Posts"? In case you're wondering - I haven't been in a caffeine induced coma, but caffeine consumption has definitely been in play!

I left the SCWBI conference last August with a permanent grin plastered on my face (and yes, the Sid Fleischman Humor Award traveled with me in-style back home where it wryly watches over me every day.)

Upon getting home I immediately sank into the post-conference funk but promised myself I would dive back into my updates. After all, I'd made a zillion new friends and this would be the perfect time to extend that friendship via my blog. But then...life happened.

I think the reason I dropped off the blog map is I immediately dove into completing my next book and being the kind of writer who takes on big tasks with gusto - all my writing energy was consumed by...(wait for it)...

The Awesome 

Almost 100% True Adventures 

of Matt & Craz 

(try saying that 3 times fast!!!)

That's a picture of the full cover which I think Simon & Schuster should get a standing ovation for. The cover and the ARCs arrived in May and I've been doing the Snoopy dance ever since.

Like MILO, the new book is loaded with my cartoons and though it doesn't come out until next spring I thought it was high time to show everyone what I've been up to since going into the Blogger relocation program.

I hope to fill in some of the year's ups and downs and keep the blog ball rolling. Who knows? I may even post again before Christmas!

AWARD-WINNING WEEKEND

Phew! It's taken me a week to let it settle in. MILO won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award given out at this year's SCBWI annual conference!

Was it the most amazing weekend of my life? Come on. I rode the hotel elevator with Judy Blume and Richard Peck. Had a lovely chat with Jerry Pinkney while we ate peach cobbler. Learned that Libba Bray is a Doctor Who fan. Oh, and got honored by 1300 of the nicest, most generous kid-lit people I've ever metaphorically met.

The 4 day conference featured keynote speeches from kid-lit greats like David Smalls, whose graphic memoir Stitches took my breath away. Jon Scieszka and Libba Bray made me laugh. Bruce Coville made me think. Gary Paulson made me glad I don't have any desire to race the Iditarod and Laurie Halse Anderson gave me the courage to let my words be bold and true.

I had no idea how much I needed to be surrounded by writers and illustrators and the people who love them. Working in my basement with just my dog as company I have been adrift for too long without the nourishment that comes from like-minded introverts; inmates all let out of the asylum at once!

My Milo meeting Norton Juster's Phantom Tollbooth Milo.

Richard Peck gave a stirring speech as part of the Golden Kite Awards luncheon.

We finally meet!

Lisa Yee (and my kimono) right before the 40 Winks pajama party. Lisa was the first recipient of the Sid Fleischman Humor Award and like me, she was the children's author in residence at the Thurber House. We had lots to catch up on over a great lunch where we learned we both had also worked for Disney and both make it a priority to have chocolate after lunch.

I also finally met someone who has been an email/blog/facebook friend for years; Jay Asher, dressed here in his pink finest.

And here I am with the funny, generous, wonderful executive director of the SCBWI, Lin Oliver. I still remember the February night when I was making chicken burritos and I got the phone call from Lin and SCBWI president, Stephen Mooser, telling me that Milo had won the award. I did all of the stereotypical things like screaming, jumping up and down and burning the dinner to a charred crisp!

Jerry Pinkney talked with me about life, creative pursuits and the joy of having two desserts to choose from.

Henry Winkler is co-author (with Lin Oliver) of the Hank Zipzer series. Together they gave a very funny and heartfelt session about writing humor. He had the room rolling from his stories and what inspired him to write.

Sunday was the big day - the luncheon where the awards are given out. They went all out with the desserts, which were chocolate books filled with whipped cream and berries. I was too nervous to eat the weird chicken...but somehow found a way to devour this yummy tome.

The Sid Fleischman Award was the final award given out and I was relieved to finally hear my name, which meant they hadn't made a mistake and it all hadn't been an elaborate prank. Looking out at all of the people in the ballroom I took a moment to let it all sink in; my book was being honored and I was actually there receiving it. That picture above is only one third of the ballroom - there were a TON of people there and giving my speech I was so aware of the impact my words were having on the room. My speech was both funny and touching and I used the time to remind everyone that humor and sadness can co-exist and both are sometimes needed to tell a story. Because Milo is such a personal story for me - I was also able to dedicate the award to the memory of my mother, which was a deeply felt honor for me.

After the award Judy Blume made a point of coming over to congratulate us. She had actually come back so that she could hear the speeches. Here I am with Judy, my agent, Jill Grinberg and Jenni Holm, whose book Turtle in Paradise won the Golden Kite fiction award.

Judy Blume was a surprise guest of the conference and the day before she gave an emotional, funny and real sit-down interview for all of us. Such a remarkable writer who has given so much to the world of kid-lit and beyond.

I was so glad that past Sid Fleischman Humor winners, Allen Zadoff and Lisa Yee were sitting with me at the lunch. Lisa made sure I didn't have any lettuce in my teeth!

To everyone I met over the weekend and those I didn't - I thank you all for making the SCBWI 40th anniversary conference so meaningful and fun. As I said in my speech, winning any award is an amazing thing - but getting a HUMOR award for a book that also deals with loosing a parent is the best praise I could ever get.

Oh, and you don't get to see everyone in their pajamas when you win a Newbery!

"TUNA FISH! "*

(* read MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE - it'll make sense!)

AMAZING NEWS!

Eeesh! I am embarrassed by the time lapsed since my last post - but to be fair, I have been hunkered down (with Zeus in my lap) working to finish the first draft of the "new book" which is due right about...NOW.


But even with the final chapters in sight, my train of thoughts has been derailed by the BEST NEWS EVER... MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE just won the 2011 SCBWI Sid Fleischman Award for Humor!


This is a really bid deal for me and I am still hyperventilating from the news (and it's been a few days since I heard). The list of past winners is beyond amazing and it befuddles my wee brain to think that I am in the company of Lisa Yee, Donna Gephart, David LaRochelle, Gennifer Choldenko, Sara Pennypacker, Allen Zadoff - but most humbling, is the man who received the first honor, the amazing Sid Fleischman. Wow!

What makes this extra sweet for me - not only was I able to combine my text with my cartoons, but MILO tells a very personal story. It's the story of loosing a parent when you are young and the ways a young adolescent goes about trying to remember his mom, even through the fog that has settled inside him. It's a heart-warming story, and yes, I've heard some tears have been shed reading it.

But I'd always set out to write this book with a sense of humor leading the way - and to have that side of me, and Milo recognized proves that I was able, in my own way, to highlight that a painful life event doesn't have to wipe away the funny parts. It truly can be a tandem dance between the sadness and the laughter because that was always my own experience...and now it's Milo's too.
Thank you so much SCBWI for honoring the funny and heart-felt part of me that is MILO.

MILO BOOK TRAILER

Those wonderful folks at Simon & Schuster posted the MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE book trailer. Check it out and share with your pals, cats and cousins!

MILO BOOK LAUNCH

It was a wonderful fall night - not too chilly and not yet rainy, which was good because I had to schlep a lot of stuff from my car into Paragraphe bookstore in Montreal.

Eyeball brownies! And lots of them!!

It was so nice to share the night with author/friend PJ Bracegirdle, whose 2nd Joy of Spooking book, "Unearthly Asylum" was also celebrated. Seems we both have the Montreal goatee thing going on (but his mustache tips are waxed!)

Paul reading from "Unearthly Asylum"

Members of the Montreal Goatee Society

Friends came out to help us celebrate and it was so nice to get the chance to chat (even briefly) with all of the people who wanted to support us. Thanks to you all!

After Paul read from his new book - it was my turn to see if my audio/visual equipment was going to work. Sitting at the low table with the microphone aimed at me I felt like I was doing a gig at a piano bar. Lucky for all - the projector worked great and my apple mini-remote came through like a champ, which gave my reading the added kick of showing my cartoons as I read from Milo's "Halloween Party" chapter.

One of my fave pics - this girl reading along with me!

As an added bonus to the great night - I had been contacted by a young fan who wanted to come to the launch but said she couldn't because it was her birthday. I wrote her back and told her to have a great birthday - but if she did decide to come to let me know so and I would have a cake ready!

After reading my Halloween chapter - we all sang "Happy Birthday" and helped Kinneret celebrate her special day!

Kinneret and her (half-eaten) birthday cake!

Eyeball Brownies! Milo talks about the eyeball brownies at the Halloween Party, which were inspired by the brownies my son and I once made when he was in 2nd grade. So I decided if that was the chapter I was going to read - then I would bake Eyeball Brownies to add to the snacks at the party!

I almost forgot to hand these out - (Thanks Kalie!)

It was an exciting night for me to finally share Milo with the friends and fans who've been so supportive while I was working on the book.

Paul, author (and cafe-pal) Jill Murray, Kalie and moi

Carol Ann and Susan

So one more time: Thanks everyone for coming out and celebrating and for making me (and Milo) feel warm and fuzzy....and full of brownies!

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Well it's official.

Tuesday, MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE had it's real-live book birthday and I couldn't just sit on my butt at home. No siree, I had to have visual proof that the book was actually IN bookstores. Besides, I was too excited to actually stay home and write and so I drove downtown and hit the trio of book sellers there.

First up, Indigo books - a huge chain of stores in Canada. I went to their "flagship" downtown Montreal location. This was my very first stop and I was filled with excitement...anticipation... and ultimately, DISAPPOINTMENT!


Like Old Mother Hubbard, I went to my bookshelf, careful to follow the alpabetical path to the "S" names. To my horror - "Silberberg" did not exist. I quickly accessed one of their nifty search kiosks and what I found was...."zero available in this store". Oh, fortuna how low you have spun me!

Lucky for me - another chain store was just up the street. And so, hat in hands, I trudged off to visit the equally huge Chapters bookstore (owned by the same company as Indigo I might add).

I walked into the basement level kids' section with trepidation. But what did I see? The familiar BLUE COVER and white lettering! Eureka - MILO EXISTED!

Now I'm usually a shy guy - but there I was gleaming at the bookshelf, camera in hand, and it wasn't long before a helpful bookseller asked if I needed anything. I told her I needed to wish my book a Happy BookDay and she eagerly obliged!

Not only did I find wonderful sales help - but while I was there (okay, because I was there and opened my big mouth) I was witness to the very first sale of my book. Technically, it was the first sale that happened in front of my own eyes, but let's not quibble over details. SOMEONE wanted to buy my book!!!

Soline was looking for books for her daughter and 12 year old son and I offered her a quick review of MILO. As it turned out she was also a therapist and immediately thought the book sounded like something she might be able to use with families dealing with grief and so, eager to give it to her son first - she bought a copy!

my FIRST sale! Thanks Soline!

Next up - the last downtown bookstore, Paragraphe. This is the store that will be hosting my book launch next month. On October 14th, Paul Bracegirdle and I will be having a joint launch party for our new books at Paragraphe. More details to come!

I love Paragraphe because it's a cramped space packed full with books and weaving my way to the kids' section was kind of like navigating a wild maze of books. And to my delight - I saw stacks of MILO. Yay! Again I needed some help and so got the fabulous book buyer to blow the streamer for Milo!
I pulled up a chair (gotta love those little kids' tables) and signed a few copies. Nothing cements that "I'm an author" feeling like inscribing books!

My search began with a big fat "zero" at the first bookstore but ended happily with one real-live book sold, a bunch of signed books, and then a hundred or so TWITTER BOOK PARTY tweeted messages.

Hey authors - are you a member of Twitter Book Parties? If not - why not? This brain child by author Mitali Perkins is genuis because it makes the usual lonely part of having your book come out turn into a joyful day of tweet "greetings" from all the members of the book party universe. Not only does it make you feel kinda sorta special - every tweet is also telling that person's followers about your new book. Social marketing and fuzzy feelings all in one click!

Later this week, I hit some of the smaller book stores in my area. Hey, I like to know MILO is in good hands!

Milo's Book B-Day

CLICK HERE FOR MILO'S GREETING!

AROUND THE WORLD WITH MILO

With one month to go until pub date (okay, 28 days - but who's counting?) - I wanted to sharethe latest great news about my new book, MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE.

Yeah - the book has gotten some rocking reviews; like this one...and this one.

But I can now officially let loose with the news that the book has been sold to the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. I also got word that Milo will be published in Thailand and Israel too. I wonder how they say "Freezie" in Hebrew?

I can't wait to share the international covers online, but that won't be for awhile. Not that I'm in a rush to see how awesome they'll look...

Way cool, huh?

BEST DAY EVER!

I have always marveled at the people who can point easily to the perfect days in their lives and say without pause, "That was the best day." I mean, I'm a writer. Ask me to point to a miserable day and I can deal out a dozen or so in a heartbeat.

But the game has changed because I now have that day, that PERFECT DAY, etched forever in my brain-box. It all began with a weekend trip to New York to visit with my editor, Liesa Abrams, at Aladdin. Apparently there were people in her office who had read MILO: STICKY NOTES & BRAIN FREEZE and wanted a chance to meet me. Cool, I thought. I'll just drive down from Montreal and take Milo with me on the one condition that I control the radio.

The weekend fun was kicked off by walking from our hotel through Times Square on our way to meet Liesa and her husband for a matinee of AVENUE Q. Times Square always smells like a hot summer day so it felt normal to be bombarded by the sights, sounds and smells of a 92 degree, humid summer Sunday.

After Milo and I sweated through clean shirts and baked under the July haze - we got to the theater and sat through the hysterical musical. Everyone says the puppets are "so racy" - but even Milo thought the show was kind of tame. I guess that's what watching so much SOUTH PARK will do to a kid's brain!

Had a lovely dinner with Liesa and James and as super-fantatstic as that Sunday was, it was just the precursor to the Monday that was to come. First I had to check-out of my hotel and though I had a minor freak-out that I'd lost my passport (found after a frantic search through the suitcase that then fell apart) the morning began slightly less humid and with a vente iced latte, so all was good.

Milo and I arrived outside the Simon & Schuster offices and he was immediately awed by the building.

We went inside and rode the elevator to the 4th floor. Stepping off the elevator the first thing I saw was this wall of MILO books. We both felt a surge of caffeine-adrenaline and posed for a picture taken with exquisite care by the multi-talented Liesa Abrams.

Not only is Liesa an incredibly talented editor and a great photographer - but she is the coolest person in the world because she loves all things BATMAN. This is a shot of a shelf in her office.

Now you have to realize that Liesa had tried to prepare me for what was to come by hoping that I'd be ready to "share the love" around the office. But I had no idea that Milo (the book) had so many fans already! I walked into the conference room and was met by dozens of people who had read and LOVED the book and it was probably the most overwhelmed I'd been in a long while. I had a chance to speak to the group and explain how personal Milo's story is to me.

Then I had Milo pose with everyone.

This was the first moment that my book felt like it was really out in the world and I made sure to bask in the feeling that it was a story that was touching people. Writing a book about parental loss and grief was an emotional journey for me and seeing that the emotion carries to other people touched me very much. Because the final book isn't ready yet I signed printed copies of several of the book's cartoons for people, which again just hit home how real the experience of publishing Milo felt.

The morning was made even more special because my wonderful agent, Jill Grinberg was there too. Thanks Jill!

Liesa, Me, Milo and Jill

Life is supposed to be full of great days but sometimes I've had a hard time finding them. I am so thankful to everyone at Simon & Schuster who was part of this incredibly special day for me. Of course I feel lucky just to have a new book being published - but to be able to feel the support and emotion of what my book is starting to mean to the people reading it is giving a new meaning to the BEST DAY EVER.

For me and Milo anyway.